The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-13
4 THREE-SIDED CONTEST
The Union Railway Takes Hand in
the Big Four and l., d. & s. Fight.
It Removes the Latter's New Track and
Quietly Puts Down One of Its Own
Several Suits To Be Filed To-Day.


companies yesterday, no attempt being made by
the latter complete it's crossing OF the former
tracks. Last night, however, there was more
excitement on the contested territory caused by
the Union Railway Company stepping in and
taking hand in the fight At 8 o'clock all was
apparently quiet for the night The trains Of
the Big Four, that had been kept close at hand
all day to be used in case blockade became
necessary, occupied their same position. TWEEN
ty-fve or thirty men were with the train, and all
were well provided with tools necessary to undo
any work the enemy might be able to accom-
plish. The Big Four people expected that the
l., ID. & S. forces would swoop down upon chem
sometime duriae the night. but never suspected
that the Union Railway Company would take up
the fight At $50 o'clock train of fatcars, pulled
by Union Railway Company engine ran down
the Big Four track and stopped alongside the
line that had been constructed the night before.
The Big Four people looked on in amazement.
At first they thought the ten cars loaded with
men belonged to the l.. d. & s., and were using
a Union railway engine q ruse, and the train
mon began preparing to carry out their orders
and hold the disputed crossing at all hazards.
However, when Engineer Doran, of the Union
company, showed up among the new arrivals
they began to grasp the situation, and saw what
the new movement meant. The Union Railway
Company was about to take possession of the
territory on which the l., D. & s. track had
been laid.
The force of the Union Railway Company went
to work at to tear up the track that had been
laid the night before by the l., D. G. S. The
rails, ties. and every bit OF material used were
piled upon the fat The loaded train was
then run across the river to an l. D. & S. switch
A. a L.
train had hardly pulled away with the wrecked
l., ID. & S. track when the second Union railway
train came up loaded with new ties and steel
rails. AS they could be distributed
the men, under the direction of Mr.. Doran. be-
gan laying a new track, and in two hours it was
completed A frog was put in at the eastern
terminus, connecting the line with the Union
tracks proper, and q train was then run over the
bit of new track, to give it q lawful existence.
During all this time the Big Four people
stood by and offered no interference. although
their s~tch running into Coburn Joness
undergrad, the crossing of which they had
blockaded against the l., d. Dc s., was taken up
Tor the new track, and was not reconpected.
None of the l., ID. 81 S. people were on the
ground and if they knew OF what was being
done they took no steps to offer resistance
They both gamers and losers by the
move Night before last and yesterday they had
two crossings OF the Big -Four to make; one over
the main track at Mississippi street and the
Union Railway Company put down the frog at
the switch crossing. and all they
lack OF having through line to the de-
were the losers, because the Union Railway
Company claims the ground on which they built
the track. After the Union Railway Company
had accomplished it's work it's men were with
drawn. and the Big Four left in possession OF
the field. They placed Six loaded coal-cars at
the east end OF the new track and ten cars aDd an
engine at the west end, so as to prevent the l.,
D. Il $. from approaching the ontested ground
from either direction.
The l. D. e. s. passenger train which should
have left the Union Depot at 1915 o'clock was
not allowed to go out over the Big Four tracks,
and after being detained until 1l:30 o'clock, got
m outlet over the Vandalia. Walter Cox. the
only Big Four official on the ground. said 1t
not the intention OF the road to interfere with
the l., ID. & S. passenger trains; but nevertne-
less the blockade was not raised for the train.
However. his road, he said would resist all ef-
forts of the l., d. & s. to run switch engines
any kind Of trains OF the track. except pass
enger trains.
In explaining the trouble Superintendent Ben
der. who had the work in charge, said 1t
done to save the title to a right OF way. 1T is
o mistake" he continued, ITO think the l., ID. e.
s. people have grown FESTIVE under trackage
rate paid to the Big Four That amounts to
only $50 per month. not $500. az stated Were
there no other considerations, we would
Of the Big Four track from Missis-
sippi Tennessee street The Big Four
people object only to our crossing their track at
Mississippi street in order to make connection
with own. Superintendent Sherwood, OF
the Big Four, was away from the city when our
track was put down, and the information he re-
eeived led him to regard the matter more serious
than we intended. This brought about the OK
ritement attending the tearing up of the frog
When he reached the city Saturday night he and
planned. Previous to this l relegraphed
Inn at Greensbure what had been done.
OF course, the Big. Four company objects
10 our crossing its track but that always occurs |
In matters OF this kind. Sometimes 1t settled |
by conferences, but more frequently tie ques-
lion 10 decided by the courts 1t is probable |
stance. We are still in the United States Court |
under a receivership. Although the sale of the |
l., ID. 81 s. railroad has been made, it has not
been confirmed, and il the controversy cannot |
be adjusted by conference. the Big Four will |
be cited to appear in court"
superintendent Bender intimated that the de-
sire to have . track at this time on Louisiana
street from Mississippi to Tennessee was attrib-
ntable to possible complications about right of
way with the Union Railway Company. after
shat corporation has completed its train sheds.
These sheds will be extended to a line near Ten
uessee street, which would force the l.. d. & s.
10 still use the Big Four track from Mississippi
street to the Union railway tracks for that short
distance to reach them. Under an ordinance
passed May %, 1881, the l., d. & S. secured light
Of way to the center of Tennessee street, but the
company brought its track only TO Mississippi
street ut was the intention then" said Mr.
Bender, ITO build the road to Tennessee street,
but the l., b. & w. got the road and that COM
pany nao n Lacit UNDERSTANDING Win the Dig
Four for the free use of the atters short stretch
Of track to make connection with the Union rail-
way tracks However, the Big Four afterwards
made charge for it, and as it was small
monthly expenditure IL was not considered
worth while to lay track on this small
part OF the l., ID. & s right of way" Why it
should be done now is ex planned by an ordinance
passed n year ago in connection with the Union
railway ordinances relative to their new depot
ENTERPRISE. Councilman Benjamin. st q meet
ing of the Council June 7, last year, intro
tucad ordinance to confirm the right OF the |
Union Railway Company TO occupy portions of
Tennessee and Mississippi streets and
Kentucky avenue with its tracks, and authoriz-
ing it to readiust it's system and lay addition
ii tracks thereon. Since that time they have pur
.hased the Coburn property. which the new
track il laid. With the tracks now on Louisiana
street there is hardly sufficient room for another
between Mississippi and Tennessee streets The
/ d. & s, under the ordinance of 1881, could
,se this space and it is probable that the Benja-
min ordinance, which passed without thorough